Linda Rice Looms Large in NYSS Races

Trainer
Linda Rice will send out three runners apiece in the New York Stallion
Series Spectacular Bid and the New York Stallion Series Cupecoy's Joy on
Sunday at Belmont Park.

The
Cupecoy's Joy, for 3-year-old fillies on the turf at seven furlongs,
will feature the Rice-trained trio of Miss Narcissist, Champagne Ruby,
and Bella the Bandit, none of whom have made a start over turf.

Miss
Narcissist rose to prominence as a 2-year-old, when she took the Joseph
A. Gimma on October 19 at Belmont by 5 ¼ lengths, then followed that
performance up with a win in the NYSS Fifth Avenue on November 23 at
Aqueduct Racetrack.

The bay filly has made only one start in 2014, a fifth-place finish in the NYSS Park Avenue.

"Miss
Narcissist was injured in the starting gate in December [in the East
View]," said Rice. "She has taken quite a bit of time to round back into
form, but she seems to be turning a corner at this point. She's never
been on turf, but she's a [daughter of] Freud, and most of them do well
on the grass."

The
second most accomplished of the Rice triumvirate, Champagne Ruby is
exiting a sixth-place finish in the Bouwerie on May 31 at Belmont. In
her only prior start of 2014, the chestnut daughter of Utopia finished
second to Henry's Gal in the NYSS Park Avenue.

"Utopia's
[progeny] have generally done well on the grass," said Rice. "I have
been able to take her out to the turf and she did seem to like it."

Rounding
out the Rice trio is Bella the Bandit, a two-time winner by Bustin
Stones who finished fourth in the NYSS Park Avenue last out.

"Bella
the Bandit ran pretty well in the Park Avenue on dirt," said Rice.
"I've never had the opportunity to try her on grass but I've always felt
that she'll like it."

In
the Spectacular Bid, for 3-year-old colts at seven furlongs on the
turf, Rice will saddle Mark My Way, Bambisfrostyracer, and A Marked Man.

Mark
My Way has a win and two third-place finishes to his credit racing over
turf. The win - a smashing five-length victory - came on November 10 at
Aqueduct. The bay son of Noonmark's most recent outing was a
third-place finish against older foes on May 25 at Belmont at 1 1/8
miles on the turf.

"Mark
My Way is proven on turf," said Rice. "He can't run a jump on dirt, but
he's good on turf and we got a nice prep race into him [on May 25]."

Bambisfrostyracer,
who has yet to run on turf, is coming off a 2 ½-length maiden score on
June 15 at Belmont Park, for which the Frost Giant colt earned a 78
Beyer Speed Figure.

"Bambisfrostyracer
broke his maiden going a mile on dirt last Sunday; he's back on short
rest and is unproven on the turf, but we thought we'd take a shot," Rice
said.

Rice
will also saddle A Marked Man, who is still a maiden through three
career starts. The gelded son of Noonmark was most recently second in an
off-the-turf race at Belmont.

"A
Marked Man loves the grass," said Rice. "Jose [Ortiz] rode him at
Aqueduct and he was very green. He is a maiden, so it's a step up in
class, but I thought he deserved a shot."